Microsoft has withheld the application programming interface (API) required to build a browser for Windows 8 RT for third-parties developers such as Mozilla and Google, meaning that there will be no versions of Firefox or Chrome for this edition of the OS.

Anderson slammed the company's strategy in a blog post, saying that it is reminiscent of the "digital dark ages" when users had little choice over software.

"Unfortunately, the upcoming release of Windows for the ARM processor architecture and Microsoft's browser practices regarding Windows 8 Metro signal an unwelcome return to the digital dark ages where users and developers didn't have browser choices," he wrote.

The Mozilla General Counsel went on to say that Microsoft's strategy is evidence that the firm is gradually closing its platform off in a bid to swerve the anti-competition rulings imposed on them in the past.